Professor Peter Aston Memorial Concert

On the evening of Friday 14th March 2014 I attended the UEA Symphony Orchestra and Choir's Professor Peter Aston Memorial Concert at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich. This concert was dedicated in memory of Professor Peter Aston and also marked Sharon Andrea Choa's last concert as UEA Director of Music and UEA Symphony Orchestra Conductor.

The programme consisted of Nimrod - Elgar, O Sing unto the Lord a New Song, If ye Love Me, O be Joyful in the Lord, The True Glory - Peter Aston and Symphony No.9 - Beethoven. The Orchestra was conducted by Sharon Andrea Choa and the Choir was conducted by Tom Primrose. Soloists on the evening were Lisa Cassidy, Eleanor White, Iain Milne and Andrew Weeks.

This was an emotional night at St. Andrew's Hall which included sacred choral music by Peter Aston. Elgar's Nimrod and Beethoven's Symphony No.9 were both performed brilliantly with Sharon Andrea Choa conducting the UEA Symphony Orchestra for the last time before taking up her appointment at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

Eve Daniell and Tom Primrose at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Saturday 22nd June 2013 I attended the Eve Daniell and Tom Primrose Summer Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. I just made the start of the Recital after watching The Lions beat Australia with a two minute dash from Timberhill.

The programme consisted of Mio Caro Bene from Rodelinda - Handel, An die Musik - Schubert, Standchen - Schubert, La Diva de L'Empire - Satie, Schlagende Herzen - Richard Strauss, Befreit - Richard Strauss and On this island - Britten.

British/Canadian soprano Eve Daniell is attending the Royal Academy of Music in London. She attended the University of Victoria and holds performing diplomas in voice and piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has performed as Witch and Mother in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel and Sorceress in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.

Tom Primrose is studying piano accompaniment at the Royal Academy of Music. Before this he was Assistant Organist and Director of the Girls' Choir at Norwich Cathedral. He is director of the Symphony Choir at the UEA, working regularly with the Symphony Orchestra. He is also Artistic Co-Director of the Southrepps Classical Music Festival.

This was a wonderful Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church with both Eve Daniell and Tom Primrose giving splendid performances. Thanks to both of them for standing in at short notice for this Mancroft Music Summer Recital. It was fantastic to hear Benjamin Britten's On this island in his Centenary Year.

UEA Christmas concert at St. John's Cathedral

On Thursday 13th December 2012 I went to the St. John The Baptist RC Cathedral, Norwich for the UEA Christmas concert which featured a 140 strong choir singing well loved community carols with opportunities for audience participation. The choir were conducted by Tom Primrose with William Fergusson on piano and Kris Thomsett on organ.

In the first half of the concert the choir sang Joy to the world, Quem pastores laudavere, Coventry carol, Past three o clock, I wonder as I wander and Sussex carol. There was also audience participation with O come all ye faithful, While shepherds watched their flocks and See amid the winter's snow.

After an interval of wonderful refreshments in the Norfolk Room the choir sang Ding dong merrily on high, The shepherds' farewell, In the bleak mid-winter, Sans Day carol, The twelve days of Christmas and Sir Christemas. There was also audience participation with O little town of Bethlehem, We three kings of Orient are, Away in a manger and Hark the herald-angels sing.

There was a brilliant festive atmosphere at St. John's Cathedral as the UEA Choir thrilled us with a feast of Christmas favourites. Hark! the herald-angels sing. Glory to the new-born King. This was a night which really raised the roof.